What is ACE Doing?

We’re new to working on Alaskan agricultural issues, so we’re by no means experts on the topic.  However, we do have 30+ years experience behind us in grassroots organizing.  We are confident that with ACE’s membership – your support, and your voice! – we can bring power to an Alaska local food movement.

We are meeting people who are experts in Alaska local food.  ACE talks to farmers, chefs, legislators, small business owners, gardeners, university professors, vendors, students – not to mention, the many great volunteers who show up at ACE events, in our inbox, and in our office interested in participating with the campaign, learning, and sharing what they know.  

We’re finding that there are many strengths to Alaskan agriculture – including the enthusiasm of growers for their trade and product, and the hard work they invest in quality.  Alaskans love to eat Alaska Grown, and above and beyond what they buy at the store, farmer’s market, or CSA, many people we talk to are passionate about learning to grow their own.

ACE has identified three major tasks this campaign will focus on in the next year:

-    From the ‘top down’, behind the scenes level we will pursue a long term goal of enacting legislation at the state level.  You can learn more about our proposed bill here.  What we are doing now to build toward this bill (which may be a year or more down the line) is to partner with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to organize a Food Policy Council.  The Food Policy Council, which will be finalized in February, 2010, will be made up of approximately 20 carefully selected representatives with diverse constituencies, perspectives, and expertise from around Alaska.  The Council will be tasked to systematically identify obstacles to building a viable local food system in Alaska, propose solutions, and draft a strategic plan to implement these solutions through policy recommendations.  This Council would serve as the precursor to a longer-term, State authorized Task Force we envision being created by our proposed bill.

-    From a ‘bricks and mortar’ perspective, we see the imminent need for an Alaskan processing facility.  A processing facility would make it possible to preserve Alaska produce for year-round, in-state consumption.  It would increase the availability of Alaska Grown foods in stores for consumers, and increase farmers’ ability to grow, making it possible to preserve more farmland.  Additionally, a processing facility could pre-package Alaska Grown foods such as potatoes in such a way that state institutions such as schools could purchase in bulk within their current system for preparing food.  A processing facility in Alaska would also help make enforcement of the 7% purchasing law (which requires institutions receiving state money to buy Alaskan agricultural products when they are within 7% of the price range of a comparable product from Outside) viable, because a more uniform product would be available to institutions.  Finally, a community kitchen component of such a facility would create a space where small-scale growers, chefs, berry pickers, students etc would have an opportunity to cook, preserve, sell, and learn in a DEC approved facility.  We will encourage ACE members to take opportunities to support building an Alaskan processing facility.

-    Finally, our most visible and tangible work will take place in the dirt, by supporting community gardens, home gardening, and community compost.  We've partnered with Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) to create a series of gardening workshops to take place on a monthly basis between January-April of 2010.  These workshops will have different themes depending on the month and will be open to gardeners of all experience levels, with the understanding that gardening is a collaborative process.  There will be several fun events over the summer, including the opening of a demo, educational ACE/ACAT “C” Street Community Garden plot.  This will be a great way to get involved, see what’s happening, and find out about more Alaska local food from ACE, your neighbors, and friends!

Nothing's set in stone, but as the campaign coalesces we want to keep you as up to date as possible - and we definitely encourage you to stay involved at every step.  Ideas?  Feedback?  Want to get involved with the Food Policy Council, make a suggestion, sign up as a volunteer for the community garden, or make sure we have something on our radar?  Now's the time!  Get in touch with our Sustainable Communities Coordinator at alli@akcenter.org or call 907-274-3662.